A new overpass bridge has been constructed across the King Abdullah Road, formerly Dhahran Road and known as the “highway of death” by the expatriate communities here. Dhahran Road then, which was widened with the removal of a stretch of garden in the middle of the road, was the scene of horrific accidents that claimed the lives of not less than a dozen workers who dared cross the highway with speeding cars from both sides of the road that then had no traffic light. But even after the installation of traffic signal lights about a year ago, there were still accidents happening because some drivers simply do not observe the traffic signal rules. The laying of the new overpass has come as a relief for many expatriates working within the Al-Khobar city's commercial districts. “I have witnessed a number of expatriates crossing Dhahran Road being killed by speeding cars. It was very scary crossing the road even during broad daylight because of the absence then of a traffic light,” said Ahmad Mansoor, a salesman who runs an electronic shop right across the new overpass. “This new overpass is yet the best safety net for shoppers and visitors to Al-Khobar City,” added Salman, a cashier of a shopping center. The new overpass now crosses the King Abdullah Road from the eastbound right side beside the imposing Nasawi Commercial Center to the other end near King Khalid Street, the road that leads to the heart of Al Khobar's commercial center. The construction of the new overpass is a project of the Municipality of Al-Khobar. Essam Al-Mulla, the mayor of Al-Khobar, has said that the new overpass was constructed not only to provide safety to pedestrians and visitors but also part of the beautification program of the city.
